The other girl - Cesca Major

They thought she was insane. But what if she was telling the truth?

1942, New Zealand. Edith's been locked away for a long time. She was just five years old when she was sent to Seacliff Lunatic Asylum. Fifteen years later, she has few memories of her life before the asylum, but longs for one beyond it.

When she survives a devastating fire that destroys her ward, Edith is questioned by the police and a young doctor, Declan Harris. Intrigued by his beautiful patient, Declan begins to doubt the official reasons for her incarceration. Is she truly mad-or could the impossible stories she told as a child actually be true?

Time is running out. With Edie awaiting a new and permanent treatment, soon there will be little of her left to save. Meanwhile intrigue has tipped into obsession-Declan needs to uncover the truth, but in doing so he will risk losing everything. As he sets out to save her mind, will he lose his own?

As an ex-history teacher, Cesca has always been fascinated by true stories from the recent past. She has written three novels; her debut The Silent Hours was described as a ‘moving debut' by Women & Home magazine and The Times called Major ‘a talent to watch'. Her third novel, The Other Girl, is a historical thriller set in an asylum in 1940s New Zealand and is inspired by a terrible true story. Cesca has vlogged about the writing process for www.novelicious.com and the Writers & Artists' website. She has also presented shows for ITV West and Sky. She writes other books under her pseudonym Rosie Blake. She runs writing retreats twice a year in the West Country and teaches creative writing workshops for the Henley School of Art. Cesca lives in Berkshire with her husband, son and twin girls.

"A creepy and captivating read." -Women's Weekly

"Enthralling, chilling, challenging, and wonderfully readable." -LoveReading

"If historical fiction is your bag, look no further." -Daily Record

"This is the definition of a page-turner." -Heat

"Brilliant." -Bella

"Cesca Major is so skilled at taking real historical events and weaving them into stories that are as fascinating as they are disturbing. They'll make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up." -Kate Riordan, author of The Heatwave

"I loved this historical thriller. Tense, compulsive, atmospheric and emotional, with two wonderful lead characters and an original plot that had me hooked from beginning to end." -Claire Douglas, author of Then She Vanishes

"It's chilling, tense, and atmospheric, with an irresistible premise." -Roz Watkins, author of the DI Meg Dalton series

"Breathtaking, pacy, and utterly compelling, it had me gripped until the very last word." -Cathy Bramley, author of A Patchwork Family

"CD Major is a truly gifted storyteller. I adore everything she writes." -Amanda Jennings, author of The Cliff House

"Atmospheric, chilling, and absolutely compelling-I loved it." -Rachael Lucas, author of The Telephone Box Library

"I was swept up in this story, captivated by the characters, the suspense…This story is cleverly plotted, skillful and breathtaking in the telling. I started reading it and couldn't stop until I reached the startling climax." -Maddie Please, author of The Summer of Second Chances

"This was a marvelous read, gripping from the very start, and builds layer upon layer of tension. So good I read it all in one sitting, and wanted more when I finished it." -Sara Benwell, Good Housekeeping

"Hugely atmospheric, incredibly creepy, and emotional. A clever and sinister page turner set in a New Zealand asylum, exploring the idea of past lives. I can't recommend this book enough." -Cressida Maclaughlin, author of the Cornish Cream Tea series

"With a tense undercurrent and an immersive story, The Other Girl is completely gripping and atmospheric." -Vikki Patis, author of Girl, Lost

"Tense, compelling storytelling with a stellar cast of characters that had me believing every word." -Rona Halsall, author of The Honeymoon

"An utterly creepy and mesmerizing read-I couldn't bear to put it down." -Angela Clarke, author of On My Life

"This is a heartrending story turned skillfully into an edge-of-the-seat historical thriller. The characters are well drawn, the storytelling emotional and gripping, the setting presented like an oil painting of its time." -Susanna Beard, author of Dare to Remember

"You have such an evocative style, your writing is beautiful and the story was just so intricate and enticingly, sympathetically weaved. This is next level." -Anna Mansell, author of The Man I Loved Before